White dwarf population from the SDSS DR12

We examine the mean components of the stellar three-dimensional velocities, as well as their dispersions with respect to the Galactocentric and vertical distances. We confirm the existence of a mean Galactocentric radial velocity gradient, {partial}<V_R_>/{partial}R_G_=-3+/-5km/s/. We also confirm north-south differences in <V_z_> .

Specifically, we find that white dwarfs with Z>0 (in the North Galactic hemisphere) have <V_z_><0, while the reverse is true for white dwarfs with Z<0. The age-velocity dispersion relation derived from the present sample indicates that the Galactic population of white dwarfs may have experienced an additional source of heating, which adds to the secular evolution of the Galactic disc.